Barcelona are confident of beating Arsenal to the signing of teenage sensation Ivan Fresneda this summer, with the Spaniard favouring a move to Camp Nou over north London.
The Blaugrana are on the hunt for a new right back, with Ronald Araujo having to fill in there during pre-season and Sergino Dest expected to depart permanently this summer after a poor loan spell with AC Milan.
To that end, they have identified Real Valodolid’s Fresneda as a long-term solution to their problems, with the Spaniard having a 20m euro release clause written into his contract.
Fresneda, who was raised in the Real Madrid academy, starred for the La Liga side last season, having made the step up to the senior side from the reserves over the summer. He also has 13 Spain U19 caps to his name, though he is yet to make the step up to the senior squad.
Though he has been a long term target for Arsenal, they are yet to make a move and now they could risk losing their man after it emerged that Barcelona were also keen on adding him to their ranks this summer.
As per Spanish outlet Sport.es, Fresneda ‘has been waiting for Barça and would prioritize coming here’ over a move to either Arsenal, Bournemouth or Borussia Dortmund, all of whom have shown strong interest.
“I think Fresneda has few games left with the Real Valladolid shirt. He is 18 years old, but he does things that people of 30 do”, he explained.
“If I was at another club, I would go for him without hesitation, his data is brutal and you are not buying the current player, you are buying what he can become in a few years.”
